CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Staring down at my boring one-piece, I regretted not listening to Tabitha and buying a bikini. My mind swam in all directions. On the one hand, I imagined losing my job if I fell into Aidan’s irresistible arms, while on the other, I sensed his attraction. Or was he just as attentive and suggestive with every woman he spoke to?
I changed into my don’t-touch-me-I’m-a-virgin swimsuit. Moving my head from side to side, I studied myself in the mirror—longish, dancer-shaped legs that Tabitha had always envied, and a thin waist that accentuated my curvy thighs and heavy breasts. I supposed they suited me.
After tying a sarong around my waist, I grabbed a towel, my sunglasses, and hat. Impatient, I decided to do sunscreen at the beach in front of Aidan. My overactive imagination suddenly painted a scene of him rubbing cream on my back while my straps hung dangerously low. Heat gushed up my legs at the thought. It fulfilled one of my sexual fantasies—being fucked by a handsome stranger after he offered to rub sunscreen on my inner thighs.
Aidan had fueled such insatiable desires that I had to be LA’s horniest—and only sex-addicted—virgin. What would he say if he knew I was untouched?
As I lifted my heavy bag I realized there were enough supplies in case of a shipwreck. Now, that would be sensational: marooned with Aidan all alone—a fantasy I filed away for later.
****
Floating on my back, I was off with the fairies when I heard a bark and a splash. I looked up and Rocket was swimming towards me, his tongue hanging out.
“Hello, cheeky boy.” I patted Rocket, who was treading vigorously. Aidan, meanwhile, sprang up from under the water and stood by my side.
“That feels amazing,” he said, his beautiful face dripping in water. “Have you been in long?” He pushed back his hair. His eyes, bluer against the sea, were twinkling.
“Only a few minutes,” I replied.
He tossed a ball to Rocket, who swam back within seconds with the ball in his mouth. Aidan then tossed it to me. And before I knew it, we were playing ball. It was such fun. I giggled raucously, which helped me focus on something other than Aidan’s curvy biceps, his firm, well-defined abs and rippling chest.
When Aidan moved to knee-high water, his trunks bunched around his manhood. I was grateful that Rocket was there to take my focus.
Aidan laughed at his dog’s sheer tenacity. The canine demonstrated extraordinary stamina as he swam tirelessly for the ball. It was the first time I’d seen my boss so relaxed.
Being the first to step out of the water, I ran to my towel. Rocket and his yummy master followed along.
“Now, that feels better. I’m almost back to normal. I drank a little too much last night,” Aidan said, drying his face and his firm stomach. Boy, how I envied that towel.
Watching me squeeze excess water from my hair, Aidan said, “I didn’t realize you had such long hair.”
“I can’t bring myself to cut it. It’s annoying after swimming, though,” I said with a weak giggle.
“Don’t ever cut it. It’s beautiful hair,” he said seriously. “You remind me of the reclining woman over the fireplace.” Aidan’s gaze penetrated deep.
“Oh, the Godward piece. I think it’s titled When the Heart is Young.” The compliment was not lost on me, given that the girl in the painting was beautiful.
Aidan nodded. “I’m in awe of your knowledge, Clarissa.” My name flicked off his tongue so suggestively. “I picked it up at Sotheby’s last year. Soon as I saw it, I had to have it. I wanted to put it in my bedroom, but it suited the Alma-Tadema works.” Aidan sat on his towel while keeping an eye on Rocket, who was playing down in the shallows.
“It’s the ideal place for it. All the art I’ve seen so far is amazing. You have impeccable taste, Mr. Thornhill.”
“Please call me Aidan. Today, I’m not your boss,” he said with a divine, bone-melting smile.
I grabbed my sunscreen and applied it onto my arms and décolletage. As I tried to reach for my back, Aidan said, “Here, I’ll pop some on your shoulders if you like.”
Taking the tube from me, Aidan lifted my heavy wet hair and dried my shoulders. As he touched me, my skin prickled. His manly hands were on me at last.
Because I’d been sitting on my calves, I had pins and needles. As I went to adjust my position, I lost my balance and fell into his arms. There I remained, and Aidan wasn’t going anywhere. He just kept holding me. With my heart in my mouth, I pulled away.
“I’m sorry. I’m nervous.” Turning to face him, I bit my lip.
He shook his handsome head slowly. “You have nothing to be nervous about. Here, I haven’t finished yet.” Aidan squeezed more cream on his fingers and rubbed it into my back. I wanted to drift off and enjoy his touch, but my heart was beating like mad.
When he passed the tube back to me, I was disappointed he’d stopped.
“Do you mind rubbing some onto my shoulders and upper back?” He raised his eyebrows and cocked his head.
With tube in hand I rubbed the cream into his well-built, tanned shoulders. He smelt of sea, and virility. I was so inebriated I couldn’t speak.
“Done,” I said. My mind was relieved. My hands, however, wanted to continue and travel south.
He stood up and shook the sand from his shorts. “Do you feel like a walk?”
“Sure,” I replied, getting up.
My nose reached his shoulder as I walked by his side with Rocket close at my heels.
“I’m sorry about Bryce’s brutish behavior last night. It added a sour note to an otherwise perfect night,” said Aidan, turning to look at me.
“It’s not your fault. He seems troubled,” I said, staring down at his bare feet splashing along.
“Troubled is an understatement. He’s getting worse.” He stopped walking again. Intensity had returned to his face. “I’m pissed that he’s coming on strong towards you. He’s a ladies’ man, and a sleazy one at that. I sense you’re not that way inclined. That’s why…” He stopped all of a sudden.
I shook my head. “That’s why…?”
“That’s why I hired you,” he said with a serious note.
“Why did you hire me?” I asked.
“Where do I start?” Even though he wore dark glasses, I sensed his eyes stripping me bare again. “I liked your green cardigan.” He grinned.
My brows squeezed together. “But you weren’t there, or at least I don’t recall seeing you.”
“I saw everyone,” he said soberly.
My eyes widened. “You were watching us?”
“Yes. Does that sound creepy?”
“Kind of.”
“I hope you won’t hold that against me,” he said. It was hard to tell if he was playing or serious.
“How can I? I ended up getting the job of the century. But why hide?”
“I decided against a conventional interview. I wanted to treat this process in a different fashion than the past interviews. And as it transpired, I got it right for a change.”
“For a change?” I asked.
“You’re the sixth in so many months.”
“Wow.” A frown rippled through my brow. “I don’t get it. It’s not that difficult.”
“For you it might be easy. But not for the others, as it turned out. You’re the brightest, the most cultured, and well-mannered we’ve had to date. Both Greta and I feel blessed.”
“I’m the one that’s blessed,” I said almost to myself. “It’s like I’ve won the lottery.”
Aidan chuckled.
“So, was it the green cardigan that scored me the job?” I had to know whether he was joking. Aidan was so dry in his delivery.
“No. Although green is your color.” His gaze lingered. “No, it was what you wrote. Your answer was the most selfless. I wanted someone whose heart was in the right place. And I liked that you put the needs of others ahead of you, namely your father and the dog shelter and also…” He stopped himself again.
“And also?” I asked, hanging onto every word.
He stopped walking. He turned to face me. His hand brushed my cheek, leaving a fiery imprint. “Your breathtaking beauty.” He took a strand of my hair and twirled it in his fingers.
My throat was dry. My mouth fell open but nothing came out.
“I shouldn’t have admitted that. I know it seems wrong.” He returned my wide-eyed stare with a slight, uncertain smile.
“What are you doing now?” He stopped to turn back.
“I have no plans.”
“I’ve arranged for Will to prepare fresh fish caught this morning, here in these waters.” He pointed to the yacht anchored about two hundred meters away. “Dinner on my yacht. What do you think?”
I glanced over at the impressive vessel. “I’d love to, but…”
“But?”
My voice cracked. “I love my job here, Mr. Thornhill.”
“Please call me Aidan. And what has your visiting my yacht got to do with your employment here?”
“I was just warned not to…” I stammered.
“Not to hang out with the boss?”
“Kind of.” I sighed.
“I hired you, Clarissa Moone. I’m the only one that decides who comes and goes.”
“I suppose when you put it that way…” Riddled with uncertainty, all I could do was press my lips into a faint smile.
Aidan’s features softened. He removed his glasses. If only he hadn’t. Starved of air, I fell deep into his gaze. “What do you think? It will be a warm evening. The sky will be amazing. And it’s magical out there. I’m off to New York in the morning. It may be some time until…” There was something deep in those eyes, remote and hard to decipher.
I shook my head “Until?” His inability to finish sentences had become frustrating.
“I’ll be away for two weeks. What do you think?” He cocked his head.
We arrived back at my towel. Rocket came running towards us with something in his mouth. “What’s that you’ve got?” asked Aidan, grabbing the dog by the collar. He dragged out what looked like a decayed fish bone. “Bad boy.” Aidan tossed the fish away then returned his attention to me. “I’m still waiting for your answer.”
“I don’t want Will to see me,” I said in one quick breath.
His eyebrows drew in. “Why?”
“He’ll tell Melanie, and she’ll tell Greta. And it will make me out to be, you know…” I bit my lower lip.
He held my gaze again. “Melanie’s a gossip.” He collected his towel. “I’ll instruct Will to keep it to himself. He’s been with me since the beginning. He’s a discreet man. I’m sure you’ll have nothing to worry about there.”
The wind was blowing my dried hair all over my face. I pulled it back and tied it in a knot. “All right then. Should I go back and change?” I asked, wrapping the sarong around my hips.
“There’s no need. I’m still in my shorts. And I have a pullover if you feel cool, which I doubt, we’re in for a hot night.” We started to head for the jetty. “That’s unless, of course, you want to change.” He stopped and faced me again. His eyes full of suggestion caused my body, naval down, to tingle with anticipation.
“No, I’m happy as I am.”